Atiku asks Presidency to clarify authority during Tinubu’s absence

African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has called on the Presidency to clarify who is exercising presidential authority during President Bola Tinubu’s absence from Nigeria. In a statement titled “Who is in charge of Nigeria?”, Atiku said Tinubu left the country on 30 August after the Presidency announced a three-week annual vacation. He argued that Section 145 of the Constitution requires a president going on vacation to transmit a written declaration to the Senate president and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, allowing the vice-president to act as president.

Atiku said more than 21 days had passed without Nigerians being shown such a letter transmitting authority to Vice-President Kashim Shettima. He added that, if no declaration was sent within that period, the National Assembly should have used the constitutional procedure requiring both chambers to mandate the vice-president to perform the president’s functions. He asked the Presidency to publish the document if it exists and called on the Senate president and House Speaker to say whether they received it.

Atiku also questioned the absence of both Tinubu and Shettima, who he said was in New York representing Nigeria at the United Nations General Assembly. The ADC candidate described the matter as one of constitutional order rather than political convenience. He cited economic hardship, security concerns and reported deaths in government custody as reasons he said Nigeria required visible and accountable leadership.

The supplied report contains Atiku’s claims and requests but no response from the Presidency, National Assembly or Tinubu.